Novel Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Waste-Sourced Biobased Substances as Sustainable and Renewable Adsorbing Materials

This study examines the possibility of using a biobased product isolated from urban solid wastes as a material for environmental technological applications. To this end, Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) coated with different amounts of soluble biobased products (SBO) were synthesized as a low-cost nanoadsorbent for the removal of pollutants in wastewater. Particles of 10 nm diameter with an Fe3O4 core and SBO shell were obtained. The concentration of SBO employed in the synthesis had no effect on the size and structure of the NPs but ruled the pHPZC and aggregation of the nanoparticles in water. The cationic dye crystal violet (CV) was used as a model pollutant to test the adsorption capacity of the nanoparticles. The results indicated that both the medium pH and NP dosage were significant parameters to enhance the removal of CV. The results contribute to the studies that show how wastes can become a source of revenue through the industrial exploitation of their chemical value.